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The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) released last week the 2019 Trade Policy Agenda and 2018 Annual Report of the President of the United States on the Trade Agreements Program. These reports are submitted annually to Congress by March 1. The 2019 Trade Policy Agenda focuses on rebalancing U.S. trade efforts, and the 2018 Annual Report details the outcomes of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, including two of IDFA’s top priorities in the negotiations: the elimination of Canada’s Class 6 and 7 pricing programs and increased market access for U.S. dairy products into the Canadian market.

IDFA continues to demonstrate that the dairy industry has a powerful economic impact – $628 billion in total – on the American economy. Did you know that dairy also indirectly supports unique industries across the nation, like syrup and flavorings manufacturers? All told, the dairy industry creates $194.4 million in wages and over $2.9 billion in economic impact for American flavorings and syrup producers.

Each year, processor and supplier experts in the ice cream industry come together to learn about key issues that our industry faces and to share ideas, information and opportunities. Ice Cream Tech will be held April 16-17, 2019 in St. Petersburg, Florida, and will feature networking opportunities, hands-on sessions and product tasting. Attendees also will judge the annual contest for the most innovative flavors and novelty products.

IDFA continues to demonstrate that the dairy industry has a powerful economic impact – $628 billion in total – on the American economy. Did you know that dairy also indirectly supports unique industries across the nation, like motion pictures? Nearly 2,540 jobs in the motion picture industry depend on spending by the dairy industry or dairy industry employees. All told, the dairy industry creates $202.1 million in wages and over $908.3 million in economic impact for the American motion picture industry. So, think of the American dairy industry while watching the movies that won Oscars last weekend – because dairy helps bring entertainment to the big screen.

Earlier today, the secretaries of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the names of 20 nationally recognized experts who have been selected to serve on the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC). These experts possess expertise that is relevant to the topic areas that the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) will be addressing.

IDFA continues to demonstrate that the dairy industry has a powerful economic impact – $628 billion in total – on the American economy. Did you know that dairy also indirectly supports unique industries across the nation, like charities? Dairy companies, distributors and retailers support American grantmaking, giving, and social advocacy organizations in a number of ways beyond donations. Over 3,820 jobs at grantmaking, giving, and social advocacy organizations depend on spending by the dairy industry or dairy industry employees.

Lost in the White House Rose Garden press conference last Friday where President Trump spoke to the passage of the fiscal year (FY)2019 spending package was the significance of thousands of needed funding adjustments to federal agencies that were included in the bill. Many of these changes, like the boost to FDA standards of identity funding and ice cream research that IDFA supported, seem small in comparison to the over $1 trillion federal discretionary budget. Yet, for many American job creators, like the dairy industry, these changes will have a big impact.

Groundbreaking research, conducted by McKinsey & Company and commissioned by IDFA, provides a new perspective on the steps dairy leaders can take to capture future growth in domestic and international markets.
Appearing in a Dairy Forum capstone session in January, the consultants outlined the insights gleaned from in-depth interviews with more than 50 CEOs of international dairy companies and a survey of more than 1,000 American households. A new whitepaper, "A winning growth formula for dairy," details the study's findings and includes several data-driven recommendations for the dairy industry to consider.

During IDFA’s first fly-in of 2019, dairy leaders met with congressional leaders and senior administration officials to discuss priority issues for the dairy processing industry. The two-day event this week focused on IDFA’s appropriations priorities, trade issues and the implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill. The leaders highlighted the importance of Congress providing funds for ice cream research to address processing waste issues and additional funding for the Food and Drug Administration to ensure federal regulations keep up with industry innovation in both products and production methods.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture yesterday announced plans to purchase cheese for distribution to various food nutrition assistance programs. USDA will purchase process cheeses and shredded and chunk cheddar cheeses under the authority of Section 32, a permanent appropriation of the Act of August 24, 1935, that supports the farm sector through the purchase of commodities to encourage domestic consumption. USDA said the formal solicitation will be announced “in the near future,” and IDFA will alert members as soon as we know the date.

IDFA and Schwan’s Company of Marshall, Minnesota, last week co-hosted a meet-and-greet in Washington, D.C., with Rep. Dusty Johnson, R-S.D., who represents South Dakota’s at-large congressional district. Johnson is a member of the House Agriculture Committee and the Education and Labor Committee.

The IDFA Ice Cream Technology Conference, April 16-17 in St. Petersburg, Florida, will feature networking opportunities, product tastings and several hands-on sessions, including “Why Are Consumers Craving Plant-based Diets?” and “The Role of Food Standards in Protecting Supply Chain Integrity.” According to Cary Frye, IDFA senior vice president of regulatory affairs, “sessions at Ice Cream Tech will take attendees to the front lines of ice cream and frozen dessert innovation and help them to navigate several of the industry’s challenges.”